On my way back from seeing the Blue Pond, I realized there was a shrine nearby, so I veered slightly off the Biei Cycling Course to stop by Misawa Shrine. I had absolutely no idea what kind of shrine it was, but as soon as I saw the compact grounds—which were visible at a glance from the torii gate—I got the strong impression that it was very well cared for. The vermilion torii gate glistening in the bright sunshine and the lush green foliage were dazzlingly beautiful. And above all, my eyes were drawn to the incredibly adorable komainu (guardian dogs). Even though they aren’t “yuru-chara” (cute mascots), just imagining how these komainu—meant to ward off evil spirits—came to be sculpted so adorably makes me feel a deep affection for them and can’t help but make me smile. Although the grounds are small enough that a visit takes only a few minutes, it was a truly wonderful shrine.
Meizawa Shrine
